Littlefinger is one of my favorite characters in the books, and I love the actor they've got playing him in GoT. Pretty much spot on the way I imagined him.

Mine too. He's one of the few competent people in the series! He thinks through his actions, he knows how people will behave, and he knows what consequences his actions will have and how to deal with said consequences. And he's consistently written. Yeah, he's a dick, but I still like him.

Book spoiler from book 3 or 4

Spoiler: show

I hope Sansa doesn't fuck his shit up. I have a feeling his obsession with Cat and now Sansa will be his downfall.

Spoiler: show

I think Littlefinger is actually redeeming Sansa as a character. She has become way more interesting since becoming his protege. While she may very well play a part in his eventual downfall, I think it's more likely she will be the catalyst that allows him to achieve his ultimate ambitions. She is his Queen on the chessboard (or cyvasse board?)

Okay, a lot of this stuff is said in the show, not shown - which brings me to a question: Do the books show all this? Particularly the events leading up to Robert's taking the throne?

It is discussed quite a bit... not narrative but told by various characters telling other characters what happened as they knew it. Even up through book 5, not all of it is known and there are plenty of things that haven't been revealed (no character who was privy to whatever bit has given the details). For example, we already know from the show that when Kings Landing was taken, the Targaryen children were killed by [someone]. There's a lot of talk about that back and forth because only one or two people were actually privy to the actual killing (where there to see it first hand).

Okay, a lot of this stuff is said in the show, not shown - which brings me to a question: Do the books show all this? Particularly the events leading up to Robert's taking the throne?

You get it, sometimes from multiple viewpoints, but you often have to piece it together as one person talks about this little bit and someone else talks about this other little bit. You also have issues with knowing who is a credible speaker and who is lying to save their vested interests.

Okay, a lot of this stuff is said in the show, not shown - which brings me to a question: Do the books show all this? Particularly the events leading up to Robert's taking the throne?

There are some flashbacks, or more people remembering back to those times, but no full chapters dedicated to the "past". Game of Thrones, the book, is the first chronologically, and the show starts exactly where the book starts.

Okay, a lot of this stuff is said in the show, not shown - which brings me to a question: Do the books show all this? Particularly the events leading up to Robert's taking the throne?

You get it, sometimes from multiple viewpoints, but you often have to piece it together as one person talks about this little bit and someone else talks about this other little bit. You also have issues with knowing who is a credible speaker and who is lying to save their vested interests.

This is one of the big things that make the books so amazing. You basically have to play detective with the various pieces of eye witness testimony GRRM gives you.

Littlefinger is one of my favorite characters in the books, and I love the actor they've got playing him in GoT. Pretty much spot on the way I imagined him.

Mine too. He's one of the few competent people in the series! He thinks through his actions, he knows how people will behave, and he knows what consequences his actions will have and how to deal with said consequences. And he's consistently written. Yeah, he's a dick, but I still like him.

Book spoiler from book 3 or 4

Spoiler: show

I hope Sansa doesn't fuck his shit up. I have a feeling his obsession with Cat and now Sansa will be his downfall.

Spoiler: show

Methinks he'll have a trip out the moon window at Sansa's hand. Might be the only redeeming thing she may do in the entire series.

Spoiler: show

How are they going to get back up to the moon window with winter on the way?

Spoiler: show

Sure, winter is coming, but it's not there yet. Winter is taking its good old time driving like an old man that refuses to stop and ask for directions.

In Westeros, there is already a history of bastards becoming a threat to the throne. Trueborn or not, there's a strong tendency for other lords to use them as a foil to foster rebellion. Even when the current ruler was a Targaeryan with clear claim to the throne.

Ned, being of the opinion "all you need is a hammer", solves legitimacy problems by sending the bastard to the wall. There, all taken care of. What could possibly go wrong.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jon take the black after being urged to do so by BenJen? It not only resolved his own emo issues with being a stark bastard, but made Catelyn quite happy as well. Ned, on the other hand, always appeared to truly care for Jon Snow.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jon take the black after being urged to do so by BenJen? It not only resolved his own emo issues with being a stark bastard, but made Catelyn quite happy as well. Ned, on the other hand, always appeared to truly care for Jon Snow.

In Westeros, there is already a history of bastards becoming a threat to the throne. Trueborn or not, there's a strong tendency for other lords to use them as a foil to foster rebellion. Even when the current ruler was a Targaeryan with clear claim to the throne.

Book spoiler, background stuff:

Spoiler: show

Blackfyre pretenders happened, in no small part, because Aegon the Unworthy legitimized all his bastards (of whom he had many) just before he died.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jon take the black after being urged to do so by BenJen? It not only resolved his own emo issues with being a stark bastard, but made Catelyn quite happy as well. Ned, on the other hand, always appeared to truly care for Jon Snow.

"Urged" is a strong word, and I think completely incorrect. At BEST Benjen tried mildly to dissuade. In the book, anyway, the TV scene was completely forgettable.

My take was that it was kinda always assumed that Jon'd take the Black, and his uncle Benjen was trying to pave a smooth road for him. It was more a question of him being old enough and ready for it - which means a lot - and Benjen was trying to convince him to go get laid first.

I'm a bit behind. I finally just watched last week's episode. The midget continues to be fucking awesome. And the Wall guardian that was caring for the daughter? "I really hate crossbows. They take too long to load." He says with a fucking crossbow bolt in the chest as he rushes the fool who shot him! He's being impaled by several soldiers and he's still killing people. That's a level of badass that is just impressive.

I'm a bit behind. I finally just watched last week's episode. The midget continues to be fucking awesome. And the Wall guardian that was caring for the daughter? "I really hate crossbows. They take too long to load." He says with a fucking crossbow bolt in the chest as he rushes the fool who shot him! He's being impaled by several soldiers and he's still killing people. That's a level of badass that is just impressive.

And they made it look completely believable to boot. It didn't in any way remind me of a Arnold or Stallone level of "badassery". It played out in such a real way that I never doubted for a second. Kind of like the dancing master last season fighting off the knights with a wooden sword. It just was, and never questioned in my mind.

I'm a bit behind. I finally just watched last week's episode. The midget continues to be fucking awesome. And the Wall guardian that was caring for the daughter? "I really hate crossbows. They take too long to load." He says with a fucking crossbow bolt in the chest as he rushes the fool who shot him! He's being impaled by several soldiers and he's still killing people. That's a level of badass that is just impressive.

And they made it look completely believable to boot. It didn't in any way remind me of a Arnold or Stallone level of "badassery". It played out in such a real way that I never doubted for a second. Kind of like the dancing master last season fighting off the knights with a wooden sword. It just was, and never questioned in my mind.

Agreed completely. He staggered, fell, and delivered his lines with a lot of anger and resignation. You knew he was dead and so did he. And you both knew he wasn't going alone.

Both the direction and the acting in this show is really rather impressive to behold.

That scene with Joffrey was... messed up. I'm glad that wasn't in the books; they can be downright awful in the books, but that's just... I'm glad I didn't have to sit through reading something like that.

I am guessing that 100,000 man advantage is about to become moot. I also love the scene when Daddy Lanister arrives and takesy Arya as his cup girl. I'm guessing Gendry is somehow tied to him as well going forward.

That scene with Joffrey was... messed up. I'm glad that wasn't in the books; they can be downright awful in the books, but that's just... I'm glad I didn't have to sit through reading something like that.

Ya, someone needs to kill Joffrey quickly. That kid is all kinds of fucked up.

Overall a great episode, though I enjoyed last week's more. The scene with Tyrion and Lancel was brilliant. I lol'ed at his delivery and expression at "An anointed knight at that!"

A couple thoughts regarding book-to-screen choices, though:

Spoiler: show

Didn't the shadow baby birth scene come much later in the book? I want to say during the battle of the Blackwater, but that doesn't seem right, either. It's been a while since I read aCoK.

Also, while I'm excited to see Qarth, I couldn't help but be disappointed that we didn't get to see the Dead City that Daenerys and her khalasar camped at to recuperate.

Was Arya already saying her "prayers" before she hooked up with Jaqen H'ghar?

I was really saddened that we didn't get to see more of Brienne this episode. I hope she gets a lot more screen time later on with Catelyn. Also, I'm disappointed that they seem to be either downplaying or completely ignoring the fact that she's in love with Renly. Also noticed that they aren't the "Rainbow Guard", though since there is no subtlety whatsoever about his sexuality in the show, it would probably be too over-the-top to have a bunch of knights prancing about in multicolored cloaks like they just came out of a revival of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".

Overall a great episode, though I enjoyed last week's more. The scene with Tyrion and Lancel was brilliant. I lol'ed at his delivery and expression at "An anointed knight at that!"

A couple thoughts regarding book-to-screen choices, though:

Spoiler: show

Didn't the shadow baby birth scene come much later in the book? I want to say during the battle of the Blackwater, but that doesn't seem right, either. It's been a while since I read aCoK.

Also, while I'm excited to see Qarth, I couldn't help but be disappointed that we didn't get to see the Dead City that Daenerys and her khalasar camped at to recuperate.

Was Arya already saying her "prayers" before she hooked up with Jaqen H'ghar?

I was really saddened that we didn't get to see more of Brienne this episode. I hope she gets a lot more screen time later on with Catelyn. Also, I'm disappointed that they seem to be either downplaying or completely ignoring the fact that she's in love with Renly. Also noticed that they aren't the "Rainbow Guard", though since there is no subtlety whatsoever about his sexuality in the show, it would probably be too over-the-top to have a bunch of knights prancing about in multicolored cloaks like they just came out of a revival of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".

Overall a great episode, though I enjoyed last week's more. The scene with Tyrion and Lancel was brilliant. I lol'ed at his delivery and expression at "An anointed knight at that!"

A couple thoughts regarding book-to-screen choices, though:

Spoiler: show

Didn't the shadow baby birth scene come much later in the book? I want to say during the battle of the Blackwater, but that doesn't seem right, either. It's been a while since I read aCoK.

Also, while I'm excited to see Qarth, I couldn't help but be disappointed that we didn't get to see the Dead City that Daenerys and her khalasar camped at to recuperate.

Was Arya already saying her "prayers" before she hooked up with Jaqen H'ghar?

I was really saddened that we didn't get to see more of Brienne this episode. I hope she gets a lot more screen time later on with Catelyn. Also, I'm disappointed that they seem to be either downplaying or completely ignoring the fact that she's in love with Renly. Also noticed that they aren't the "Rainbow Guard", though since there is no subtlety whatsoever about his sexuality in the show, it would probably be too over-the-top to have a bunch of knights prancing about in multicolored cloaks like they just came out of a revival of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".

That scene with Joffrey was... messed up. I'm glad that wasn't in the books; they can be downright awful in the books, but that's just... I'm glad I didn't have to sit through reading something like that.

Ya, someone needs to kill Joffrey quickly. That kid is all kinds of fucked up.

Spoiler: show

Joffrey had the girl tortured to send a message to Tyrion not to embarrass him at court, nor interfere when he's playing with sansa. Any sex afterwards would have been the icing on the cake for him.